Diamondback soil centipede
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Geophilidae
Genus: Geophilus
Species:
G. vittatus
Binomial name
Geophilus vittatus
Synonyms[1]
  • G. cephalicus Wood, 1862
  • G. deducens Chamberlin, 1909
  • G. laevis Wood, 1862
  • G. rubens Say, 1821

Geophilus vittatus, also known as the diamondback soil centipede,[2] is a species of soil centipede in the family Geophilidae widespread in North America[3] and named for the dark band of diamond-shaped markings across its back. G. vittatus grows up to 52 millimeters in length, though it averages 25–40, and ranges from brown- to orange-yellow in color, with 49–53 leg pairs in females, 49–51 leg pairs in males, and a lack of consolidated carpophagus structures. It can be found under any debris on the forest floor, but mostly under loose bark[4] and occasionally near the sea.[5]

Taxonomy

G. rubens' (Say, 1821) synonymy with G. vittatus was proved by Hoffman & Crabill (1953), and was originally very likely based on a specimen of Strigamia bidens.[6]

Behavior

When threatened, G. vittatus will secrete poisons from its underside.[2] The secretion is proteinaceous and contains two cyanogenetic compounds, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, as well as two products derived from these compounds as a result of hydrogen cyanide production (benzaldehyde and benzoic acid). Benzoyl cyanide has not been previously recorded from a natural source.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque,1820)". ChiloBase 2.0. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Species Geophilus vittatus - Diamondback Soil Centipede". BugGuide. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Geophilus vittatus (Rafinesque, 1820)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  4. ↑ Crabill, Ralph E. (1954). "A conspectus of the northeastern North American species of Geophilus (Chilopoda Geophilomorpha Geophilidae)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 56: 172–188. Retrieved 10 November 2021 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  5. ↑ Barber, A.D (2009). "Littoral myriapods: a review" (PDF). Soil Organisms. 81 (3): 735–760. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Hoffman, Richard L. (1995). The Centipedes (Chilopoda) of Virginia: A First List (PDF) (Number 5 ed.). Martinsville, Virginia: Banisteria - Virginia Museum of Natural History. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Jones, Tappey H.; Conner, William E.; Meinwald, Jerrold; Eisner, Hans E.; Eisner, Thomas (1976). "Benzoyl cyanide and mandelonitrile in the cyanogenetic secretion of a centipede". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 2 (4): 421–429. doi:10.1007/BF00988807. S2CID 20051462. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
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